Begonia plant named ‘Bacchus’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Bacchus’, characterized by its compact and freely branching plant habit; fully double intense red flowers that are about 6 to 8 cm in diameter; short peduncles and short pedicels; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bacchus’.

The new Begonia was discovered by the Inventor in a controlledenvironment in Ermelo, The Netherlands, in December, 1994, as anaturally-occurring mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Barkos’, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,523. The new Begonia was observed as a singleplant in a group of flowering plants of the parent cultivar. Theselection of this plant was based on its unique flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by leaf and terminal cuttingstaken in a controlled environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands, has shownthat the unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bacchus’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bacchus’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bacchus’ as a new and distinct Begonia:

1. Compact and freely branching plant habit.

2. Fully double intense red flowers that are about 6 to 8 cm indiameter.

3. Short peduncles and short pedicels.

4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the parentcultivar Barkos in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Begonia are more compact than plants of thecultivar Barkos.

2. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are more intense red thanflowers of plants of the cultivar Barkos.

3. Plants of the new Begonia have shorter peduncles and shorter pedicelsthan plants of the cultivar Barkos.

4. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are longer-lasting than flowersof plants of the cultivar Barkos.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘Bacchus’. Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may differ fromthe actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Ermelo, The Netherlands, undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Average day and nighttemperatures were 20° C. during the first three to four weeks thenlowered to an average day and night temperature of 19° C. untilflowering. Four weeks after planting, one week of long nyctoperiods weregiven followed by short nyctoperiods of eight hours. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants thatwere about 10 to 12 weeks old.

Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bacchus.

Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Barkos’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,523.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to develop roots.—About 42 days with soil temperatures of 20° C.

Rooting habit.—Fine, fibrous, well-branched, and spreading; plants donot form tubers.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Compact; upright and somewhat spreading potted plant; freelybranching with good stem and stem base strength. Flowers are fullydouble and abundant. Plants flower continuously.

Growth habit.—Moderate growth rate, vigorous. Suitable for 11 to 15-cmcontainers. Under optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually10 to 12 weeks are required to produce proportional 13-cm potted plantsfrom terminal cuttings. Vegetative shoots are formed at basal nodes andflowering shoots are formed at upper nodes.

Plant height.—About 22 to 24 cm.

Plant width.—About 26 to 29 cm.

Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length: About 11.5 cm. Width:About 11.5 cm. Shape: Asymmetrical, more or less reniform. Apex:Acuminate. Base: Cordate. Margin: Doubly serrate. Texture: Slightlypubescent. Petiole length: About 2 to 5 cm. Color: Young and fullyexpanded foliage, upper surface: 147A to 147B. Young and fully expandedfoliage, lower surface: 147B to 147C. Venation, upper and lowersurfaces: 144D to 146D with medium to strong purple anthocyanincoloration. Petiole: 144D with medium to strong anthocyanin coloration.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.—Large and fully double flowers with numerous tepalsarranged in axillary cymes. Usually three to five flowers per cyme. Manycymes in flower simultaneously. Flowering continuous.

Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower year around regardless ofnyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and more abundantly frommid-February until November in the Northern Hemisphere.

Flowers.—Shape: Rounded. Diameter: About 7 cm. Depth (height): About 3cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 to 2 cm.Color: 46B to 46C.

Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Very broadly cordate with roundedapex. Margin: Crenate. Quantity per flower: Usually about 35 per flower.Size: Outer tepals: Length: About 3 to 3.8 cm. Width: About 3.2 to 4 cm.Inner tepals: Length: About 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 to 2.5 cm.Texture: Smooth, satiny, glabrous. Color: When opening: 46B. Fullyopened, upper surface: 46B. Fully opened, lower surface: 46C. Fading to:46B.

Peduncles.—Angle: Erect to bent. Length: About 7 to 9 cm. Texture:Slightly pubescent. Color: 146D to 144D with slight to moderate purpleanthocyanin coloration.

Pedicels.—Angle: Bent. Length: About 1.5 to 3 cm. Texture: Slightlypubescent. Color: Close to 179A.

Bracts.—Arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape: Very broadly cordate. Margin:Entire. Color: Upper surface: 46B. Lower surface: 47B to 47C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None observed.

Postproduction longevity:

Individual flowers.—Generally about 2 to 3 weeks on the plant.

Whole plants.—About 6 weeks under interior conditions.

Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Begonia has notbeen determined.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed as reproductiveorgans are not formed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named‘Bacchus’, as illustrated and described.